DPS seizes 672 pounds of marijuana

Bundles of marijuana totaling 672 pounds air out at the Victoria Department of Public Safety office Wednesday. Trooper Jay Schultz discovered the drugs after attempting to pull over the truck on U.S. Highway 59 at Hanselman Road. The driver ran into a ditch, hit a tree and fled on foot.

Trooper Jay Schultz attempted to stop a northbound Ford F-150 near the intersection of U.S. Highway 59 and Hanselman Road, when the suspect drove into a ditch - his vehicle striking a tree - and fled east on foot.

The suspect, a man in his 20s, was spotted by people in the rural area, but was unable to be apprehended as of Wednesday night, Schultz said.

Troopers found the 34 bundles of marijuana in the cab and passenger floorboard of the truck, which was based out of Hebbronville. The drugs were covered by cut-up river bags the smugglers were suspected of using to carry the drugs.

This makes the 30th drug or money seizure by DPS so far this year.

Lt. Glen Garrett said the increase in seizures is especially notable, considering each of the department's eight troopers have less than five years of experience.

The new troopers have caught on, though.

"We've seen an increase in the last year, and that's attributed to troopers' experiences growing," Garrett, a 22-year veteran, said. "Over the years, the success of criminal interdiction goes up and down based on the experience of the troopers."

The marijuana, like all drugs seized, will be sent to a DPS lab to be analyzed.